Be Grateful for Resolutions & Why a Friend can Help

Research shows only eight percent of people keep their New Year’s Resolutions. As Buddy the Elf would say, “That’s shocking.”

It seems we are all good at setting goals, we just aren’t that good at keeping them. And yet despite this abysmal record, I am grateful for this time of year and act of setting resolutions. The process puts us in such a good place: wanting to improve.

My advice: No matter what this year, don’t beat yourself up. If you don’t quite reach a goal, it’s okay. Be kind to yourself and celebrate any progress forward.

How does gratitude work help us with our resolutions?

Let’s say you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe you lose three, or two, or one. Well, that’s a win. Heck, even staying the same weight is a win.

Let’s say you want to learn to speak French, but gave up on Duoligo after a week. Again, congratulate yourself on getting that far. Maybe you can now ask, où sont les toilettes on a layover in Paris. (That’s “Where is the bathroom?” btw).

I haven’t competed in a triathlon yet (and let’s face it, never will), but I am getting in 10,000 steps a day. Win for me.

You get the idea. Resolutions help push us to make progress in the right direction, and I like that a lot. The problem is we don’t tend to be forgiving if we fall short. It’s time to get over the ?all-or-nothing approach to resolutions. It doesn’t make us feel good about ourselves or about setting more resolutions.

One more bit of advice: Ask a friend to help.

If you want to understand the important of teamwork in hitting goals, take a lesson from draft horses. A single draft horse can pull about 8,000 pounds. That’s pretty impressive. But get this: A pair of draft horses can pull not 16,000 pounds but 22,000 pounds. Two horses are WAY stronger than one. And consider this: Draft horses that train together have been shown to pull up to 32,000 pounds.

How does this help us with our resolutions?

It means we need to invite a friend to help. Your odds get much, much better. Invite a longtime friend—someone you trust and work well with—and your odds get better still.

Plus, isn’t it just more fun to have a friend along? Someone who can cheer for you.

So, as you end week one of your new resolutions, here’s my takeaway. Be forgiving and kind to yourself. Celebrate the smallest of wins. Remember that life’s journey is long, and a little bit of patience and forgiveness will go a long way.

Keep making New Year’s Resolutions.

If you haven’t set one yet, there’s still plenty of time. Goals like this point you in the right direction and will move you, even if just a little bit.

And that is a good thing.

So, who can help you with your New Year’s Resolutions?

With gratitude,

ANXIETY AT WORK PODCAST

Each week, my co-author and dear friend,?Adrian Gostick , and I get to talk to leading authorities on mental health and explore the causes of workplace stress and anxiety, along with practices that are proven to reduce tension and cultivate calm.?

In Episode 92, you will learn:

1. How we’re all in a relationship with our work
2. The disconnect of what leaders think is happening and what's actually happening in their organizations
3. How the most successful people differ from those who struggle

Our guest is is?Aliza Knox , the author of “Don’t Quit Your Day Job .” She has built and led APAC businesses for Google, Twitter and Cloudfare and was named 2020 APAC IT woman of the year. She has served as a global finance and consulting executive and is currently a board director and senior advisor for Boston Consulting Group.

THE CULTURE WORKS COMMUNITY

This is a place for leaders, managers and employees world-wide to discuss wellness and culture in the workplace. You will find this is a great place to share ideas, ask questions and come together to address important topics around creating a healthy work environment.

Leading with Gratitude ?&?Anxiety at Work ?are available wherever you like to get your books.?Visit?The Culture Works ?for free resources including videos, podcast episodes, and more, to help you build an all in culture of gratitude.